Ryan blamed the party's lack of legislation on the Senate, where a smaller Republican majority means Democrats are more able to impede their work. And although some Republicans have expressed concerns about President Donald Trump's falling approval ratings, Ryan said he didn't think the GOP could get more done with another commander in chief.

"The problem isn't having President Trump sign bills into law and it isn't getting bills out of the House — the problem is getting these bills through the Senate," he said.

"We're pretty frustrated with the slow pace of things (in the Senate), but in the House, we've actually done most of our agenda except for welfare reform and tax reform. There's just been a lot of distractions out there, whether it's Russia, or tweeting, or whatever."

The speaker also was asked if he agreed with Trump that Congress is responsible for bringing the relationship between the U.S. and Russia to an "all-time and very dangerous low."

Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low. You can thank Congress, the same people that can't even give us HCare!